From 19th April to 23rd May, Gasworks Arts Park invites you to celebrate queer culture for Midsumma and we’d love to see you at one of our events! During Midsumma 2021, our venue will be home to award-winning cabaret artists, brilliant satire, two stimulating visual art exhibitions, and the presentation of the Queer Playwriting Award Showcase finals!
ANTIDOTE FOR VENOMOUS WHITE SNAKES
Andrew Pearson Exhibition
April 19 to May 9
The purpose of this multi projection audio visual work is to render as wretched, venomous terminology that proliferates white supremacist patriarchy such as ”I’m not racist, it’s just a preference”, on same sex (male) ”hook up” apps.
Language suggesting that being ”white” is superior in whatever context, plays into this iniquitous delusion.
I explore poisonous patriarchal ideals generally.
Terms like, ”fit, masculine, sane and sorted” and ”straight acting” slop from the offensive to the absurd, revealing snakes consumed by conformist insecurities and judgments.
While initially disturbing, this work becomes a spellbinding antidote that enraptures with visions on the walls of a more inclusive and dignified space where difference is beautiful and celebrated.
IN ESSENTIA
Hayley Smith-Williams Exhibition
April 26 to May 23
This exhibition aims to explore the ways in which one’s sense of identity is challenged or influenced when donor conceived voices are amplified. This impacts on all three parts of the donor conception triad (donor conceived person, recipient parent and donor).
This is a community-based work from and exhibition collective that includes both professional artists and members of the community who want to share their perspective. The fact that it is organised by two non practicing artists highlights that everyone has something to say when given the support to do so. Works represent all parts of the donor-conceived triad working collaboratively to create one cohesive exhibition looking at identity.
QUEER PLAYWRITING AWARD SHOWCASE
Tuesday 27 April 7-8.30pm
Experience fresh excerpts of four brand new queer theatre works: Recollection by Georgia Ketels, Every Lovely Terrible Thing by Adam Fawcett, Coming Out by Lucy Holz, and Mummy’s Boy by Patrick Livesey. Hear queer issues and voices represented on stage, engage with new playwriting talent and have your say in the 2021 Award selection.
ALL OUT OF PRIDE
Geraldine Quinn & Cameron Thomas
Friday 30 April 8.30-9.30p
Join multi-award-winning rock cabaret artist Geraldine Quinn (Spicks & Specks) and long-term Dolly Diamond enabler Cameron Thomas for a smooth hour of “shame songs”: the soaring, slightly embarrassing songs you belt in the shower or at a karaoke bar after a pint of Tequila. From Babs to the Barrys (Gibb and Manilow), from Bronski Beat to Bonnie Tyler – as long as it can be sung with intense gusto on a beach or cliff top, it’s in the show.
GRIEF LIGHTNING: A SATIRE IN 78 SLIDES
Paper Mouth Theatre & Wickedly Good Productions
Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 May 8-9pm
Part-theatre, part-standup, part-PowerPoint presentation. The Lecturer is your charismatic tour guide who desperately tries to prove a popular Grease fan theory: that Sandy drowns in the opening beach sequence and the rest of the film is her coma fantasy. Lost in a storm of conspiracy, the lecturer drags the audience down into a world of wigs, jackets, and surreal projection.
